Light the World & the Giving Machine

We just kicked off the Christmas season and started it off with our Light the World celebration. 
Our elves came back for the Christmas season and we discussed all the ways we can be a light this holiday season. 

 

 

Our "Light the World" kickoff was based around being a light and an example of service and love. 
I decorated the tables with candles and lights. 
As always, we read "The Giving Manager" to get us in the right mindset

We had a big breakfast as part of our kickoff. We had sausage links, powdered sugar donuts, old fashioned donuts and lemon breakfast cake. 
The kids were quite happy with the sugar selection. Sadly, Chris had already left for Virginia so he had to miss our kickoff.

 

Then yesterday, on December 4th, we got to attend the soft opening of the "Giving Machines" in Bentonville. 
 I was lucky enough to have been asked to serve on the visitor experience/decoration committee. It was such a great experience. 
While the last two days have been absolutely bonkers, I am still so grateful to have been able to work on this committee. 
Tuesday night our three giving machines arrived on the square. We met as a committee and started decorating our area. We wrapped each planter box next to the machines with paper and filled them with artificial poinsettias. 
Then Wednesday morning we met again to start working on decorating the rest. We had a big balloon installation for the backdrop and we also made two large balloon towers to go in between the machines and some smaller garlands to go on top of the machines. 

We also had a light up sign made by a local company that said "Light the World" and we placed that on top of the machines. It turned out so good. 

After working all day on the machines and making sure it looked just right, I ran home and picked up my kiddos so we could attend the soft opening. 
We got to be among the first ones to use the machines and it was pretty cool. 
The kids each used some of their own money and bought things for different local charities. 
Bailey bought identification documents, Benson bought a holiday meal and Tucker & Tanner both bought a set of pajamas. There were so many great options. It was hard to decide. But I have a feeling we will be back again. 

The machines looked so good all lit up at night. 

This morning was the official unwrapping. We, again, met early to get the machines all set. 

We were really worried that the balloons would deflate because of the temperatures, but surprisingly, they held up well. 

We made sure the machines were restocked and then we wrapped them in wrapping paper so they could be officially "unwrapped". 

The committee that I was part of worked so hard and I was grateful to be part of it. 

 

We made sure to get a picture together before the unwrapping. 

The official unwrapping was quite the ordeal. There was a ton of press there and officials from the church. Each charity we worked with sent representatives. But the main attraction was the Governor. Governor Sarah Sanders and her husband came to the unwrapping and all her security.

Our Stake President, Paul Van Slooten spoke first and opened the whole ceremony.

Then Governor Sanders spoke and she did a great job. She spoke about the birth of Christ and the gift that he was to the world. She encouraged everyone to give generously and to remember those in need this holiday season. It was wonderful.

After she spoke, they did the unwrapping. We had three machines and we had wrapped each one in wrapping paper. It was fun to watch the official opening. After they were unwrapped, everyone made purchases. Governor Sanders and her husband even made a "777" purchase, which means they purchased one of everything in the machine- this totals around $1700 and is just so cool. 

After the unwrapping, the committee went out to lunch together and then we went back to switch out balloons for garlands. We knew the balloons wouldn't hold up long term so we had decided to install some green garlands with poinsettias and ornaments. 

I think it turned out really pretty and classy. But I did love the balloons. They just had a "wow" factor. 

After all these months of planning and preparing for our Giving Machines, they are finally here. I can hardly believe it. I really hope our machines are a success. We are really excited to have them here and our community is so generous- I have a feeling it's going to go well. 

Regardless, we will be back to visit them soon. 

Thanksgiving in Mountain Home

We drove from New Orleans straight to Mtn. Home and got in late Monday night. We were happy to be there and exhausted from a quick trip with lots of driving. 

On Tuesday, we hung out at Nanny and Papa's with the Drake cousins. Uncle David and Aunt Michelle and the Allreds were not there yet and so we just had a chill day. I did some laundry and we got all the groceries ordered and delivered from Thanksgiving and the rest of the week. Papa went to his last day of work and that evening after the Allreds arrived, we all went to Papa's office to pick him up for his last day of school. We decided we needed to dance him out for his last day. We gathered all his employees and we made a tunnel with our arms and Papa went through the tunnel dancing. It was so great. 

On Wednesday we celebrated Papa's retirement and his birthday. 

We had a big retirement party at the office and invited all his clients, friends and church associates.
There was a great turnout and I think Papa really felt loved. 
We are so proud of both Nanny and Papa. They have worked so hard and now they are both retired and can enjoy the rest of their days together.  

That night for Papa's birthday we made Papa's favorite meal- Tacos, enchiladas and tostadas. 

It was definitely a team effort but it was worth it. 
While we cooked, Uncle Johnny and Benson played Ramen Yahtzee and Benson dominated him. 

Benson was quite pleased with himself. 

It was also not unusual to find Chris and Tanner playing a game together. 

That night we gave Papa his presents and celebrated his 65th birthday. He made it and we couldn't be more excited for him to be retired. 

Nanny and Papa also gave each of us girls a new scarf that they got on their most recent cruise. They are so pretty and soft. 

Thursday morning was Thanksgiving and it found all of us in prep mode. 
I was in charge of rolls and pies, as well as helping with some side dishes. 

Uncle Johnny led the kids in the traditional "turkey bowl" football game. 

The kids had a great time playing together.

 

Bailey and Hazel morphed into "Bazel" again and they were sharing one jacket and trying to run and do everything together. It was pretty adorable. I love that even though Bailey is very much a teenager, she still loves her younger cousins. 

Uncle Joseph brought his little dog with them this year and I think everyone fell in love with her. Her name is Sky and she's tiny and loves to be held. It was pretty cute to find kids holding her, basically all the time. 

Our Thanksgiving meal was delicious and with everyone's help, it went really smoothly. 

 

After getting dinner cleaned up, some of us adults left to go watch "Wicked- Part 1"

I have been so stinkin' excited to see "Wicked". I've seen the musical three times and I love it so much. 

The movie was phenomenal. I loved it. I can't wait to take my kids to see it. 

We got home late from the movie and the kids were asleep when we got back. 

Friday morning we took our traditional Christmas pajamas pictures. 
I love that I got one with my parents this year. 

And getting a picture with all the grandkids is getting easier. 
The biggest challenge we face these days is trying to figure out how to fit everyone. The kids are all getting so big. 

Friday afternoon we took family pictures to commemorate Nanny and Papa's retirement. 
Nanny retired about 2 years ago but now that Papa is officially retired, it feels more real. 
I love this family of mine. 

Friday night the adults spent about an hour building an awesome fort for the kids. 
Nanny and Papa gave the kids their "basement gift" early this year and all week they have been building forts. On the last night, the adults decided to show them how it's done and we built them a massive fort. 
They loved it. 

Papa also rewarded everyone for taking awesome pictures by making his famous "Papa Shakes". 

These are always a hit and they are a pretty great incentive for basically anything the kids don't want to do. 

The kids had one last sleepover together on Friday night. 
Saturday morning the Allreds and the Colorado Drakes left to drive home. They left early before everyone was awake. 
The Texas Drakes left shortly after we were all awake and then it was just us and Aunt Laura. 
We cleaned up and packed up and headed home. 

We had a great time in Mtn. Home and it was a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

We had so many wonderful things to celebrate and it was a great week. 

I can hardly believe that it's almost December now. It's going to be a wild month. 
Chris leaves tomorrow for his last session of Public Affairs school in Virginia. 
Wish us luck. We are going to be busy!